Obama Pitches Budget to Democrats

March 25, 2009 12:00:00 AM PDT

by Viviana Hurtado

Washington --

Less than 24 hours after president Obama went on prime time to tell you and your family he's making progress in dealing with the nation's economic crisis, he'll head to Capitol Hill to promote his $3-trillion-dollar budget plan. A confident President Obama used Tuesday night's news conference to tell the American people the stalled economy is back on the road to recovery. "We will recover from this recession. But it will take time, it will take patience."

And he said with persistence, Americans will see rewards. The president pointed to what he called signs of hope, which he said are the results of the different components of his economic strategy. These include: the housing plan, the initiative to jumpstart credit for cars-student-and-business loans, and the stimulus. "This plan's already saved the jobs of teachers and police officers. It's creating construction jobs to rebuild roads and bridges."

Then there is the president's budget, criticized by Republicans who say it will add almost $80-trillion dollars to the national debt over ten years.

"Your budget spends too much, it taxes too much and borrows too much from our kids and grandkids," said Rep. John Boehner (R) Ohio.

The president conceded he may not get everything he wants. But he defended his budget as the right thing for the country's future. "It's going to be an impossible task to balance our budget or even approximate it if we are not boosting our growth rates. And -- and that's why our budget focuses on the investments we need to make that happen."

Even senators from his own party aren't 100% sold on the budget. To line up their support, the President heads to Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon to meet with senate democrats.